Longtime personal chef to Obama weds MSNBC host

Darlene Superville Associated Press

Posted:
08/30/2014 10:52:54 AM EDT

Click photo to enlarge

This photo taken Aug. 30, 2010, shows then Assistant White House Chef Sam Kass weighing sweet potatoes during the White House Kitchen Garden Fall Harvest with first lady Michelle Obama and students (not shown) in Washington. Kass, now White House Senior Policy Adviser for Nutrition Policy and someone President Barack Obama thinks of as family, is tying the knot Saturday evening, Aug. 30, 2014, with MSNBC host Alex Wagner in Westchester County, north of New York City, at a farm to table restaurant that's a favorite of both Kass and first lady Michelle Obama. The first family will be among the guests at the ceremony. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

POCANTICO HILLS, N.Y. (AP) — President Barack Obama on Saturday temporarily set aside the pressures of trying to calm the world's trouble spots and assumed the role of spectator for something more joyous: the wedding of the Obama family's longtime chef and friend.

Chef Sam Kass and MSNBC host Alex Wagner were tying the knot at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, a farm-to-table restaurant in Pocantico Hills, just north of New York City.

Obama and Kass have a close relationship, which Obama highlighted earlier this month by spending several hours at dinner at Kass' apartment amid the turmoil in Iraq, Ukraine and Ferguson, Missouri.

FILE - This April 2, 2014, file photo shows first lady Michelle Obama, and Sam Kass, Executive Director of Let's Move! and Senior Policy Adviser for Nutrition Policy, right, walking towards the White House Kitchen Garden to plant vegetables with local students at the White House in Washington. Kass, someone President Barack Obama thinks of as family, is tying the knot Saturday evening, Aug. 30, 2014, with MSNBC host Alex Wagner in Westchester County, north of New York City, at a farm to table restaurant that's a favorite of both Kass and the first lady. The first family will be among the guests at the ceremony. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) (Susan Walsh/AP)

It's long been said that time is a president's most precious commodity. That Obama would spend five hours at Kass' home on one of the aide's final evenings as a bachelor was a testament to their bond.

Obama's rounds of golf are often his only other outings that last as long — and those games sometimes include Kass.

Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, attended the ceremony and reception at the restaurant, which is a favorite of both Kass and Mrs. Obama. The first lady hosted the spouses of world leaders there in 2010.

Obama wore a dark suit, and Mrs. Obama and their daughters each wore sleeveless black dresses. The first family spent about six hours at the wedding. Obama had no known role, other than to give his best to the bride and groom.

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The union of Kass, 34, and Wagner, 36, also served to highlight what some contend is too much togetherness between the media and the people they report on. Naturally, the guest list was expected to include staff from both the White House and the liberal-leaning cable news outlet, with people from both sides breaking bread at the same dinner table.

Kass began preparing meals for the Obamas when the family lived in Chicago and the Obamas persuaded him to join them at the White House. He is now among the Obamas' longest-serving aides.

President Barack Obama, center, first lady Michelle Obama, left, and daughters Malia, left, and Sasha arrive at the Westchester County Airport, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. The first family traveled to Westchester County, NY., to attend the wedding ceremony of White House chef Sam Kass and MSNBC host Alex Wagner. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

Besides preparing the family's meals most weeknights, Kass also serves as senior nutrition policy adviser and executive director of the first lady's anti-childhood obesity initiative.

It's not unusual for presidents, including Obama, to attend or participate in weddings.

Obama hosted a Rose Garden wedding last October for Pete Souza, the president's chief official photographer.

In June 2012, Obama, his wife, daughters and mother-in-law attended the Chicago wedding of the daughter of White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett.

In May 2008, George W. Bush was in office when his daughter, Jenna, married at the family ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Bill Clinton was best man for his brother, Roger, in March 1994.

President Barack Obama, his daughters, Malia, foreground, and Sasha, and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y. on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014 on their way to the wedding of Sam Kass, their longtime family chef and a close friend of the first family, with MSNBC host Alex Wagner. (AP Photo/David Karp) (David Karp/AP)

Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, participated in the August 1984 wedding of their daughter Patti Davis. Reagan spoke one line in the ceremony. He responded "Her mother and I do" when asked who would give away the bride.

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Associated Press news researcher Barbara Sambriski in New York contributed to this report.

The limousine transporting President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha arrives at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, N.Y. on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. The first family traveled to Westchester County to attend the wedding of Sam Kass, their longtime family chef and a close friend of the first family, with MSNBC host Alex Wagner. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

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